Theme Park Report
Construction of Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has reached a new visual milestone, with decorative sections of the attraction’s Mayan temple facade being lifted into place.
Aerial photos shared by @bioreconstruct and reported by WDW News Today show facade pieces featuring red stone, decorative scrollwork and bright blue paint. Cables were attached to the upper sections so they could be hoisted onto the structure.
The top and bottom thirds of the temple currently have facade sections installed, while the middle remains an exposed structural framework. The front of the pieces is painted red and blue, while the reverse side is designed to resemble crumbling brown rock.
According to the report, the facade sections were created and painted backstage over several months at Disney Imagineering offices near Animal Kingdom. Their appearance matches the temple design shown in a miniature ride model presented at D23.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is being built as part of the new Tropical Americas land and will replace DINOSAUR. Construction has also involved excavation across much of the surrounding former DinoLand, U.S.A. area, where piles of dirt, construction barriers and orange webbing have been visible.
The attraction’s story will take guests into a mysterious Maya temple near a once-water-filled underground cave. Within the attraction’s fictional legend, the passage leads to the Maya Underworld, where the route is protected by Tsukán. The ride is expected to include monstrous bats, giant scorpions, fire and multiple appearances by the serpent before a final confrontation.
Disney Parks Blog has described Tsukán as a gigantic Audio-Animatronic figure that will tower over riders. The attraction will feature an original Indiana Jones story created specifically for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with Harrison Ford serving as the model for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure. According to the report, this will mark the first appearance of Ford’s likeness as the character in a Disney Parks attraction.
